U.S. patent number 10,381,782 [Application Number 16/004,761] was granted by the patent office on 2019-08-13 for electrical connector with haptic feedback.
The grantee listed for this patent is Daniel P. Byrne, Norman R. Byrne, Marc A. Mitchell, Randell E. Pate, Thomas A. Petersen, Timothy J. Warwick. Invention is credited to Daniel P. Byrne, Norman R. Byrne, Marc A. Mitchell, Randell E. Pate, Thomas A. Petersen, Timothy J. Warwick.
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United States Patent |
10,381,782 |
Byrne , et al. |
August 13, 2019 |
Electrical connector with haptic feedback
Abstract
An electrical connector including first and second connector
parts configured for mating together, and with one of the connector
parts having a sensory feedback member that moves between an
extended position and a retracted position as a result of magnetic
interaction with an actuation element in the other connector part
during mating of the connector parts. The movement of the sensory
feedback member causes a sensory feedback indication, such as an
audible sound or a tactile vibration.
Inventors: |
Byrne; Norman R. (Ada, MI),
Byrne; Daniel P. (Lowell, MI), Warwick; Timothy J.
(Sparta, MI), Petersen; Thomas A. (Sand Lake, MI), Pate;
Randell E. (Jenison, MI), Mitchell; Marc A. (Belmont,
MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Byrne; Norman R.
Byrne; Daniel P.
Warwick; Timothy J.
Petersen; Thomas A.
Pate; Randell E.
Mitchell; Marc A. |
Ada
Lowell
Sparta
Sand Lake
Jenison
Belmont |
MI
MI
MI
MI
MI
MI |
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family
ID: |
64563712 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/004,761 |
Filed: |
June 11, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180358749 A1 |
Dec 13, 2018 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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62518213 |
Jun 12, 2017 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/6205 (20130101); H01R 25/006 (20130101); H01R
13/641 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/60 (20060101); H01R 13/641 (20060101); H01R
13/62 (20060101); H01R 25/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;439/39,107,620.05 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Riyami; Abdullah A
Assistant Examiner: Burgos-Guntin; Nelson R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Gardner, Linn, Burkhart &
Ondersma LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 62/518,213, filed Jun. 12, 2017,
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An electrical connector comprising: a first connector part and a
second connector part that are configured for mating engagement
with one another, each connector part having at least one
electrical contact; a sensory feedback member mounted at the second
connector part and movable between a retracted position and an
extended position relative to the second connector part, wherein
the sensory feedback member comprises a magnetically permeable
material; and an actuation element at the first connector part and
comprising a magnetically permeable material, wherein the actuation
element and the sensory feedback member are magnetically
interactive with one another; wherein the actuation element is
configured to force the sensory feedback member, by magnetic
interaction, to move between the retracted position and the
extended position upon mating engagement of the first and second
connector parts.
2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the sensory
feedback member is configured to generate at least one of an
audible sound and a tactile sensation, upon moving between the
retracted position and the extended position.
3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the
actuation element and the sensory feedback member comprises a
permanent magnet.
4. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the actuation
element and the sensory feedback member each comprises a permanent
magnet.
5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the sensory
feedback member is generally cylindrical and the second connector
part comprises a generally cylindrical bore in which the sensory
feedback member is slidably supported.
6. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the second
connector part comprises a hollow chamber formed behind the
actuation element for selectively receiving a rear portion of the
actuation element in the retracted position.
7. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a
biasing member at a rear end of the hollow chamber in the second
connector part, wherein the biasing member is configured to cause
the sensory feedback member to move to the retracted position when
the first and second connector parts are not mated.
8. The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the biasing member
comprises a permanent magnet.
9. The electrical connector of claim 8, wherein the actuation
element comprises a permanent magnet, the actuation element has a
greater magnetic field strength than a magnetic field strength of
the biasing member, and the magnetic field strength of the
actuation element is sufficient to overcome the magnetic field
strength of the biasing member to move the sensory feedback member
to the extended position upon mating of the connector parts.
10. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a forward surface
of the sensory feedback member is substantially flush with a
forward surface of the second connector part when the sensory
feedback member is in the retracted position.
11. An electrical connector comprising: first and second connector
parts configured for mating engagement with one another, each
connector part having an electrical contact configured for mutual
engagement; a magnetically permeable sensory feedback member
mounted at the second connector part and movable between a
retracted position and an extended position relative to the second
connector part; and a magnetically permeable actuation element at
the first connector part; wherein at least one of the actuation
element and the sensory feedback member comprises a permanent
magnet, and the actuation element and the sensory feedback member
are magnetically interactive; wherein the actuation element is
configured to force the sensory feedback member, by magnetic
interaction, to move between the retracted position and the
extended position upon at least initial mating engagement of the
first and second connector parts; and wherein the sensory feedback
member is configured to generate an audible sound or a tactile
sensation, upon moving between the retracted position and the
extended position.
12. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the actuation
element is configured to force the sensory feedback member to move
between the retracted position and the extended position only after
the electrical contacts of the first and second connector parts
establish electrical continuity during coupling of the first and
second connector parts.
13. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the actuation
element and the sensory feedback member each comprises a permanent
magnet.
14. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the actuation
element is disposed in a central region of the first connector part
and the sensory feedback member is disposed in a central region of
the second connector part, wherein the first connector part
comprises a pair of the electrical contacts arranged on opposites
sides of the actuation element and the second connector part
comprises a pair of the electrical contacts arranged on opposites
sides of the sensory feedback member.
15. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the sensory
feedback member is generally cylindrical and the second connector
part comprises a generally cylindrical bore in which the sensory
feedback member is slidably supported.
16. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the second
connector part comprises a hollow chamber formed behind the
actuation element for selectively receiving a rear portion of the
actuation element in the retracted position.
17. The electrical connector of claim 16, further comprising a
biasing member at a rear end of the hollow chamber in the second
connector part, wherein the biasing member is configured to cause
the sensory feedback member to move to the retracted position when
the first and second connector parts are not mated.
18. The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the biasing
member comprises a permanent magnet.
19. The electrical connector of claim 18, wherein the actuation
element comprises a permanent magnet, the actuation element has a
greater magnetic field strength than a magnetic field strength of
the biasing member, and the magnetic field strength of the
actuation element is sufficient to overcome the magnetic field
strength of the biasing member to move the sensory feedback member
to the extended position upon mating of the connector parts.
20. The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein a forward surface
of the sensory feedback member is substantially flush with a
forward surface of the second connector part when the sensory
feedback member is in the retracted position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrical power and/or electronic
data outlets, receptacles, and connectors for establishing
establish direct electrical connections between respective
electrical conductors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many different types of electrical and electronic data connectors
have been devised for transmitting electrical power or electrical
signals from one or more electrical conductors to another one or
more electrical conductors. For example, male-to-female electrical
connections are commonly used to establish proper connections for
compatible conductors, whether for power or data signal
transmission. While connectors are frequently provided at the ends
of respective flexible cords, in some applications such as work
area environments it is desirable to rigidly or semi-rigidly mount
connectors to another object or surface, such as an article of
furniture or a wall or floor surface. However, rigidly or
semi-rigidly mounted connectors present challenges such as proper
alignment of one connector with another connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an electrical power or electronic
data coupling that utilizes magnets or a combination of magnets and
magnetically permeable materials to provide sensory feedback to a
user once a first connector part is substantially fully mated with
a second connector part. The sensory feedback, which may be in the
form of a "click" sound and/or vibration, indicates to the user
that at least an initial alignment and connection has been properly
established between the parts of the electrical power or data
coupling. The sensory feedback may occur well prior to the parts of
the electrical power or data coupling becoming fully mated, or may
occur just before or substantially simultaneously with the
electrical power or data coupling becoming fully mated.
According to one form of the invention, an electrical connector
includes first and second connector parts that are configured for
mating engagement with one another, plus a sensory feedback member
and an actuation element. Each connector part may have at least one
electrical contact or other type of interface that is configured to
engage a contact or interface of the other connector part. The
sensory feedback member is mounted at the second connector part and
is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.
The sensory feedback member is made from a magnetically permeable
material such as a permanent magnet or a ferrous material that is
attracted to a permanent magnet. The actuation element is located
at the first connector part and is also made from a magnetically
permeable material so that the actuation element and the sensory
feedback member are magnetically interactive with one another (i.e.
attractive or repellant). The actuation element is configured to
force the sensory feedback member to move between the retracted
position and the extended position upon mating engagement of the
first and second connector parts.
In one aspect, the actuation element and/or the sensory feedback
member is a permanent magnet, so that the actuation element and the
sensory feedback member are magnetically interactive.
In another aspect, the sensory feedback member generates an audible
sound or a tactile sensation upon moving between the retracted
position and the extended position.
In yet another aspect, the actuation element is configured so that
it forces the sensory feedback member to move between the retracted
position and the extended position only after the electrical
contacts of the first and second connector parts establish
electrical continuity, when the connector parts are being
coupled.
In still another aspect, the actuation element is disposed in a
central region of the first connector part, which has a pair of the
electrical contacts on opposite sides of the actuation element, and
the sensory feedback member is disposed in a central region of the
second connector part, which has a pair of the electrical contacts
on opposite sides of the sensory feedback member.
In a further aspect, the second connector part includes a hollow
chamber formed behind the actuation element, for selectively
receiving a rear portion of the actuation element as it moves to
the retracted position.
In a still further aspect, a biasing member is positioned at a rear
end of the hollow chamber in the second connector part. The biasing
member is configured to cause the sensory feedback member to move
to the retracted position when the first and second connector parts
are not mated.
In another aspect, the biasing member and the actuation element are
both permanent magnets, the actuation element has a greater
magnetic field strength than a magnetic field strength of the
biasing member, and the magnetic field strength of the actuation
element is sufficient to overcome the magnetic field strength of
the biasing member to move the sensory feedback member to the
extended position upon mating of the connector parts.
Therefore, the electrical power or electronic data coupling of the
present invention provide sensory feedback to a user as an
indication that a first connector part is initially mated and
aligned with a second connector part, or that the first and second
connector parts are more fully mated. The sensory feedback is
typically an audible sound and/or vibratory sensation that can be
detected through the user's fingers while pushing the connector
parts together, and provides a clear indication to the user that
the connector parts have established a desired connection.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the
present invention will become apparent upon review of the following
specification in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a pair of compatible electrical
connector parts of an electrical connector in accordance with the
present invention, shown spaced apart;
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the connector parts of FIG. 1A,
shown fully engaged;
FIG. 2A is a sectional view of the electrical connector parts of
FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the electrical connector parts of
FIG. 1B;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the male connector part
of the electrical connector;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are partially exploded and fully exploded
perspective views, respectively of an alternative male connector
part;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the male connector part of the
electrical connector;
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the alternative male connector
part of FIGS. 3A and 3B;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the female connector part
of the electrical connector;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the female connector part of the
electrical connector;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a three-outlet power distribution
unit in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the power distribution
unit of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the power distribution unit
of FIG. 7, showing four compatible electrical connectors in spaced
relation;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the power distribution unit and
electrical connectors of FIG. 9, with the electrical connectors
coupled to the power distribution unit;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a female connector part and a
frusto-conical magnet of a compatible male connector part in
accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 12 is a series of three side elevation views of the female
connector part engaging the compatible male connector part with
frusto-conical magnet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawing and the illustrative embodiments
depicted therein, an electrical connector 10, which may be
characterized as an electrical plug and receptacle arrangement,
provides sensory feedback to a user when a connection is initially
or sufficiently or fully established between a first or female
connector part 12 and a second or male connector part 14, such as
shown in FIGS. 1A-2B. The mechanical connection between the
connector parts 12, 14 is primarily established and held by
friction, although one or more permanent magnets and one or more
magnetically permeable materials, such as ferrous metal, permanent
magnets, or the like, may serve to further maintain and stabilize
the connection, as will be described below. The sensory feedback
results from the movement of one of the magnetically permeable
materials, inside one of the connector parts 12, 14, in reaction to
the alignment and proximity of another magnetically permeable
material in the other connector part, and may be in the form of a
tactile or haptic sensation that is sensed through the fingertips,
and/or an audible "click" or similar tone, although other types of
sensory feedback are also possible. Electrical connector 10 can be
used for high voltage AC electrical connections, low voltage DC
electrical connections, electronic signal connections, and for
applications including daisy-chaining modular electrical systems
together. It is further envisioned that the principles of the
present invention may be applied to fluid line connectors such as
for conveying medical fluids, including gases, from a source
connector to a corresponding connector associated with one or more
flexible fluid lines extending to a patient.
Female connector part 12 and male connector part 14 are configured
for mating engagement with one another and, in the illustrated
embodiment, each connector part 12, 14 has a respective and
corresponding pair of electrical contacts. As best shown in FIGS.
2A and 2B, female connector part 12 includes a pair of spaced-apart
female electrical contacts 16 contained within respective
insulative contact housings 18, and male connector part 14 includes
a pair of spaced-apart male electrical contacts 20 that are
recessed within open insulative sleeves 22 that are sized and
shaped to receive the insulative contact housings 18 of female
connector part 12. Thus, when male and female connector parts 12,
14 are engaged as shown in FIGS. 1B and 2B, the female connector's
insulative contact housings 18 engage the male connector's open
insulative sleeves 22 just prior to the male electrical contacts 20
engaging the female electrical contacts 16. With this arrangement,
male electrical contacts 20 are not electrically energized by
female electrical contacts 16 until the male contacts 20 are
completely surrounded by insulative material and become
inaccessible to foreign objects.
A sensory feedback member 24 is movably mounted in a
centrally-located sleeve 26 at a forward or mating end portion 14a
of male connector part 14 (FIGS. 2A and 2B). Sleeve 26 also forms
the male connector's open insulative sleeves 22. The sensory
feedback member 24 is movable between a retracted position (shown)
in which a forward surface 24a is substantially flush with a
forward surface 26a of sleeve 26 and a rearward surface 24b engages
a backstop 28, and an extended position in which forward surface
24a projects outwardly from forward surface 26a of sleeve 26, with
forward surface 24a being received in a central opening 30 of
female connector part 12 when the connector parts 12, 14 are
assembled together. Although the extended position of the sensory
feedback member 24 is not shown in FIG. 2B, an arrow overlying
sensory feedback member 24 is used to indicate the sensory feedback
member's travel to the extended position upon engagement of the
connector parts 12, 14.
With reference to FIG. 3, sensory feedback member 24 has a reduced
diameter region 32 at its forward end, thereby forming a shoulder
34 that contacts an inner shoulder or flange 36 of sleeve 26 to
prevent further forward movement of sensory feedback member 24
beyond the extended position. The sudden contact between shoulder
34 and flange 36, and optionally combined with the substantially
simultaneous sudden contact of forward surface 24 with an actuation
element 38 in female connector part 12, results in a tactile or
haptic sensation of a single-contact vibration, as in a "click" or
"thunk", which may also coincide with an audible sound. The
intensity (volume or amplitude) and sharpness or dullness of the
sensation and/or sound of the sensory feedback member 24 reaching
its fully extended position may be adjusted by the hardness of the
materials making contact with one another, the mass of the sensory
feedback member, the relative field strengths of magnets used, as
well as the shapes of surrounding materials, which may be chosen in
such a way that damps the sound and/or sensation to a greater or
lesser degree, as desired for a given application.
A rearward end 24b of sensory feedback member 24 is drawn
rearwardly against a backstop 40 by a biasing member in the form of
a retraction magnet that is positioned in a chamber 42 defined
behind backstop 30. The retraction magnet (not shown in FIGS. 2A-3)
has sufficient magnetic field strength to cause sensory feedback
member 24 to move to its retracted position when male connector 14
is not engaged with female connector 12. The actuation element 38
in the female connector part 12 is also a permanent magnet, and has
a sufficiently greater magnetic field strength than the retraction
magnet of male connector part 14 so that when sensory feedback
member 24 is retracted and the connector parts 12, 14 are assembled
properly together, the magnetic field of actuation element 38
overcomes the magnetic field of the retraction magnet acting upon
sensory feedback member 24, thus causing sensory feedback member 24
to slide to its extended position with its forward end extending
into the central opening 30 of female connector part 12. Depending
on the relative magnetic field strengths of the permanent magnets,
connector 10 can be configured so that sensory feedback member 24
moves to its extended position only when the connector parts 12, 14
are fully seated (or very nearly so), or at some earlier point
during the mating process, such as once full electrical contact is
made by the respective male and female contacts 20, 16.
Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an alternative
male connector part 14' is substantially similar to male connector
part 14 described above, except that alternative male connector
part 14' includes a rectangular interior housing 40' that both
serves as a backstop for a sensory feedback member 24' and that
also is sized and shaped to define an enclosed chamber 42' for
containing a retraction element 44' in the form of a permanent
magnet that retains sensory feedback member 24' in its retracted
position when alternative male connector part 14' is not engaged
with a compatible female connector part. In each of the
above-described embodiments of female connector part 12 and the
male connector parts 14, 14', it will be appreciated that the
sensory feedback member 24, 24' is typically a ferrous material
such as iron or steel that is readily attracted by a magnet, and
that retraction element 44' and actuation element 38 are permanent
magnets exhibiting lesser and greater magnetic field strengths,
respectively.
However, it will be appreciated that the same effect may be
achieved with different materials, such as if the sensory feedback
member 24, 24' were itself a permanent magnet and the retraction
element 44' and actuation element 38 were ferrous materials of
different sizes or compositions so that the magnetic sensory
feedback member 24, 24' is more strongly attracted to the actuation
element 38 than it is to the retraction element 44'. It would also
be possible for each of the sensory feedback member 24, 24', the
retraction element 44', and actuation element 38 to be made from
permanent magnet material, without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. Thus, each of these components may
be described as comprising a magnetically permeable material, which
refers to the material being either attracted or repelled by a
magnet, or to the material itself having a magnetic field. It is
also possible that a resilient spring or other form of biasing
element may be substituted for the retraction element 44', so that
the sensory feedback member 24, 24' can be retracted into male
connector part 14, optionally without the presence of any permanent
magnet in the male connector part 14.
It will further be appreciated that substantially the same effect
may be achieved using repellant magnets as the sensory feedback
member and actuation element. For example, a magnetic sensory
feedback member may be drawn forwardly by a thin piece of ferrous
material at a forward end of the male connector part, but may
further be more strongly repelled by an actuation member in the
female connector part, such that the sensory feedback member would
be forced rearwardly inside of the male connector part when mated
with the female connector part. In this way, the sensory feedback
member may be completed obscured from view at all times, while
reducing the risk that a contaminating material would contact and
inhibit movement of the sensory feedback member. Moreover, it
should be understood that the choice of positioning sensory
feedback member 24 in male connector part 14, and positioning
actuation element 38 in female connector part 12, is substantially
arbitrary, and either connector part may contain the actuation
element or the sensory feedback member. Thus, the principles of the
present invention may be applied to androgynous connector parts, or
may be positioned in any desired connector part that is compatible
with another connector part.
In addition to the electrical contacts 16, 20, sensory feedback
member 24, actuation element 38, and retraction element 44', each
female connector part 12 includes a pair of housing pieces 46 made
from insulative material and each male connector part includes a
pair of housing pieces 48 made from insulative material, with the
housing pieces 46, 48 assembling together around the other
connector components and secured together with a mechanical
fastener 50 such as a screw or rivet. Other fastening means are
also envisioned including snap-together latch tabs, adhesives,
ultrasonic welding, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment,
one housing piece 46 of female connector part 12 includes a pair of
ridges 52 that cooperate with a pair of grooves 54 formed in an
outer surface of the male connector's sleeve 26 to ensure proper
orientation of male connector part 14 with female connector part
12. Housing pieces 46 have a pair of internal ridges 56 along their
interior surfaces that receive a flange 58 of an insulative body
that forms both insulative contact housings 18 (FIG. 5), thereby
retaining the contact housing 18 between housing pieces 46 when
female connector 12 is assembled and secured. Similarly, housing
pieces 48 define forward grooves 60 along their interior surfaces
to receive flanges 62 of a body that forms sleeve 26 (FIGS. 3 and
3B), thereby retaining sleeve 26 between housing pieces 48 when
male connector 14 is assembled and secured.
The various features and advantages of connector 10 may be
incorporated into a multi-port power distribution unit 110, such as
shown in FIGS. 7-10. Power distribution unit 110 is assembled from
two housing parts 112, which may be substantially identical to one
another, and from other components that will be recognized as
corresponding to components of the female and male connector parts
12, 14 described above. Essentially, power distribution unit 110
has four sides, each of which has internal shapes and contains
components corresponding to the female connector part 12 or the
male connector part 14. These components are assigned reference
numerals in FIG. 8 that, for like components, correspond to the
reference numerals used in connection with the female connector
part 12 and the male connector part 14. These include female
electrical contacts 16, male electrical contacts 20, a sensory
feedback member 24, actuation elements 38, a sleeve 26, an
insulative body forming insulative contact housings 18. Once
assembled, multi-port power distribution unit 110 forms a male
connector part 114' for receiving power or data signals from an
outside source via a female connector part 12, and three female
connector parts 112' for distributing the power or data signals to
up to three different male connector parts 14, such as shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10.
Optionally, and with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, another
electrical connector 210 provides sensory feedback with reduced
parts count and complexity as compared to the connectors 10, 110
described above. Electrical connector 210 includes a female
connector part 212 and a male connector part 214, the female
connector part 212 having a pair of receptacle openings 216 and the
male connector part 214 having a pair of corresponding prongs 218.
Female connector part 212 further includes a centrally-located
magnetically permeable actuation member 220 (magnet or
magnetically-attractable material), and male connector part 212 has
a centrally-located frusto-conical chamber 222 containing a
frusto-conical sensory feedback member 224, the latter being
undersized compared to the former.
Because of the respective shapes of frusto-conical chamber 222 and
frusto-conical sensory feedback member 224, the sensory feedback
member 224 will tend to fall toward the back of chamber 222 (as in
the top and middle views of FIG. 12) under force of gravity when
male connector part 214 is held at various angles ranging from
horizontal (shown) to vertically upright (i.e., rotated 90-degrees
counterclockwise from the horizontal orientation of FIG. 12), and
also at some angles rotated down from horizontal (i.e., in the
clockwise direction from the horizontal orientation of FIG. 12).
However, it will be appreciated that sensory feedback member 224
will fall toward the open end of chamber 222 under force of gravity
if male connector were oriented vertically down (i.e., rotated
90-degrees from the horizontal orientation of FIG. 12), unless a
biasing member such as a spring were provided in chamber 222 to
urge sensory feedback member 224 toward the rear of the chamber 222
with sufficient force to overcome gravity.
When female connector part 212 is aligned and engaged with male
connector part 214, and the connector parts are pushed together by
a sufficient amount, such as shown in the bottom view of FIG. 12,
the sensory feedback member 224 will be drawn to the actuation
member 220 and "snap" into engagement therewith, causing a tactile
or haptic sensation (and optionally an audible sound) that provides
a user with confirmation that the connector parts are adequately
mated. Upon separation of the female connector part 212 from the
male connector part 214, the magnetic interaction (attraction)
between the sensory feedback member 224 and the actuation member
220 is reduced until the force of gravity (and/or the force of a
retraction biasing element) is sufficient to cause the sensory
feedback member 224 to fall back toward the rear of the chamber 222
(as in the top and middle views of FIG. 12).
Accordingly, the present invention provides a user with sensory
feedback in the form of an audible sound and/or a vibration or
similar haptic or tactile feedback that is sensed through the
user's fingertips or hands, when the two connector parts are
properly aligned and sufficiently engaged. Although it is
envisioned that friction would be the primary force resisting
separation of the two connector parts together, the magnetically
permeable components of the feedback parts may provide additional
retention and stabilizing.
Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments
may be carried out without departing from the principles of the
present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the
scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the
principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.
* * * * *